Kink-free, integrated car trailer
The direct flange connection of the trailer to the towing vehicle's trunk, using a rigid or yielding axle and quick-release couplings, addresses integration inefficiencies, enhancing loading capacity and stability for commercial vehicles and motorhomes.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202024001855
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing trailers for towing vehicles often lack a seamless integration with the towing vehicle, leading to inefficiencies in loading capacity and stability, especially for commercial vehicles and motorhomes, and require complex coupling mechanisms that are not user-friendly.
A flange-based direct connection of the trailer to the towing vehicle's trunk, utilizing a rigid or yielding axle for steering and a retractable support wheel, with quick-release coupling systems, and air suspension for load management, enhancing stability and ease of use.
The solution provides enhanced loading capacity and stability by integrating the trailer with the towing vehicle, allowing for efficient load expansion and simplified coupling, particularly beneficial for commercial vehicles and motorhomes, with improved safety and ease of use.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The inventive idea is to flange a box trailer directly onto the box of the towing vehicle. This trailer then lacks the traditional long front drawbar. It is rigidly connected to the towing vehicle. It has a rigid axle or a compliant axle that steers slightly when the towing vehicle corners. This steering function can be implemented as a freewheel, spring-back, or linked to the vehicle's steering system via a control system. The trailer also has a support wheel that retracts significantly during use.
[0002] The trailer body can be connected to the towing vehicle body using a flange or any other method according to the state of the art. Coupling systems that allow for quick and safe separation should be preferred. State-of-the-art aircraft technology offers a wide range of such systems with the highest levels of functional reliability.
[0003] Both cases can be designed in such a way that the removal / minimization of the adjacent / coupling walls is quickly possible during the coupling process.
[0004] This invention is particularly useful for commercial vehicles and motorhomes in the 3.5-ton class. This allows the vehicle's loading area to be extended. The payload can also be increased. This is the sum of the weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer. Thus, the 3.5-ton capacity can be increased by 750 kg for the simple trailer version with the axle without brakes. By much more for the version with brakes. Preferably, the axle of the towing vehicle and the trailer should have air suspension. Option: By varying the diameter of the air bellows, or appropriate placement of the bellows on a trailing arm (between the wheel axle and the axle of the handlebar) With the same air pressure as the rear axle of the towing vehicle, the precisely defined load on the trailer axle could always remain in the same ratio. This could enable a very simple coupling to the rear axle's air suspension. Braking system: As soon as the trailer exceeds a total weight of 750 kg, a braking system on the trailer axle is required.
[0005] As a variant: motor vehicles (commercial vehicles, mobile homes) can be designed with a special box body, having a removable rear wall (e.g. with a flange on the entire cross-section), so that if this rear wall is removed, the trailer can be attached directly to the flange.
[0006] As a variant: the air suspension of the vehicle (or the trailer).
[0007] Drawings: Fig. 1. Motorhome 3.5 T with removable rear wall Fig. 2 Motorhome 3.5 T with removable 70 cm long rear section with bunk beds Fig. 3 Motorhome 3.5 T with a 2 T “integrated” trailer Fig. 4. Motorhome 3.5 T with a 750 kg (unbraked) “integrated” trailer Fig. 5. View of the coupling surfaces: rear of the vehicle on the left, front of the trailer on the right. This version features a cross wall and a door in the middle. Four small squares show the sample coupling points for quick couplings.
Claims
[1] A box trailer for motor vehicles under 5 t GG, which is rigidly connected to the towing vehicle (cannot swivel horizontally or vertically) Characterized by that: - The trailer box is directly connected to the box of the towing vehicle. - The parallel walls of the towing vehicle and the trailer are easy to remove, or in whose surface a through opening can be created so that both boxes can be connected to form one room once they are connected. [2] A motor vehicle box trailer according to claim 1. characterized by , that: - both the box of the towing vehicle and the box of the trailer have a flange on the circumference (transverse surface) so that the trailer can be coupled to this flange after the original rear wall of the vehicle has been removed. [3] A motor vehicle box trailer according to claim 1, characterized by , that: - The axle of the trailer is not steerable, or the wheels of this axle are steered [4] A motor vehicle box trailer according to claim 1. characterized by , that: - the trailer's support wheel is either (typically) at the front or preferably behind the trailer axle. [5] A motor vehicle box trailer according to claim 1. characterized by , that: - the air suspension (lowering and raising) of the towing vehicle and the trailer can be used for the coupling process by having the vehicle lower than the trailer during this process, then bringing the trailer closer to the vehicle and then "hooking" it onto the vehicle by subsequently equalising the heights.